I heard about the Mission Small Business campaign just over a month ago but didn't really get interested in it until 3 days ago. Once I realized what it was about I was like, "I am so gonna do this."

So, I started on my essay, Thursday. Got it finalized around 11 and submitted. It was then that I realized, "Holy cow; I have 24 hours to get 250 votes for my submission." So I immediately posted on Facebook, both the store page and my personal page and then on a community board we frequent. It's taken me 6 months to get 100 "likes" on the fanpage... I was not hopeful.

But then the votes started pouring in; and people I've never even heard of were sharing and liking and voting... people in other states... in other countries. We reached our 250 vote goal in 24 hours! I was amazed and awed and proufoundly moved and humbled and it got me thinking...

This is what we're about. The people who shop here aren't customers, they're friends. We've created a sense of family, of ownership, of pride and belonging. We are a community of book lovers that's growing daily.

I love my bookworms... and apparently they love me too.